Following the successful delivery of its latest edition in Melbourne, Foodservice Australia is entering a new chapter – rebranding to the Restaurant & Foodservice Show.
The new name isn’t just a refresh. It’s a strategic repositioning designed to better reflect the businesses that drive Australia’s hospitality industry today – and to attract more of the buyers that matter most to suppliers.
Under new ownership by National Media, the show has already seen renewed investment, a stronger program, and a record-breaking turnout. Now, with a name that speaks the language of hospitality operators, it’s set to grow even further.
“The high-value operators we’re trying to attract – chefs, owners and operators of quick service and casual dining restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels – don’t describe what they do as ‘foodservice,’” says Mike Hill, event director at National Media. “They say they work in restaurants. In hospitality. That’s who they are. And that’s who this show is for.”
At the same time, institutional foodservice remains a critical part of the industry – and a core audience for the Restaurant & Foodservice Show. Aged care, hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, defence, and other large-scale operations play a major role in Australia’s foodservice economy, and the Show will continue to invest heavily in attracting procurement leaders, executive chefs, and foodservice managers from this vital sector.
The new name brings greater clarity and cut-through, making it easier to engage with the right audience and deliver more qualified buyers to exhibitors of food, beverage, technology, equipment, and essential supplies.
Importantly, the rebrand retains the term ‘foodservice’ – a deliberate nod to the supply side of the industry: food and equipment manufacturers, distributors, and service providers. This show has always been a commercial hub for suppliers to meet serious hospitality buyers. The new name brings both worlds together – speaking the language of operators, while still championing the businesses that power the industry behind the scenes.
First launched in 1967 as the International Catering Trade Fair, and later reimagined as Foodservice Australia, the show has long been a cornerstone of the industry. Now, under the Restaurant & Foodservice Show banner, it’s set to become an even more powerful platform for doing business.
What doesn’t change?
The event is still strictly trade-only. And the mission remains the same: to connect the people who make, run, and supply Australia’s most dynamic hospitality venues.
Food & Hospitality Week
The Restaurant & Foodservice Show will run as part of Food & Hospitality Week – a unifying event that brings together leading trade shows, conferences, awards, and networking events under one banner. FHW sets a new standard for food industry events, offering a multi-event platform serving hospitality in all its forms – from pizzerias and QSRs to restaurants, cafes, hotels, pubs, caterers, and institutional foodservice. It’s where the entire community comes to connect, celebrate, and shape what’s next.
What’s next?
With sharper positioning, more targeted marketing, and continued investment, the Show is set to deliver more value than ever – attracting a highly engaged, purchase-ready audience of professionals who come to source, compare, and buy.
The next edition under the new brand will take place in Sydney, 24–26 May 2026 at ICC Sydney.
Exhibitor bookings are now open. For more information or to request a prospectus, pricing and floorplan, contact:
Mike Hill
0483 907 805
mhill@nationalmedia.com.au
